column to floor

[jonski]

guys tanong ko lang kung pwede ba pa modify ang column shifters sa floor? magkano kaya?

[OTEP]

Depende sa sasakyan. That's a common mod for vintage Benzes (ginagawang floor shift). For modern cars, baka medyo mahirap.

[jonski]

ganon ba? ang pumipigil lang kasi sakin ngayon para bumili ng SUV ay yung mga column shifter. hindi kasi ako sanay talaga dun. may plan ba CRV na gawing floor shifter sakanila next year?

[OTEP]

Kung matic naman, ok lang sigurong column shifter since you are not really shifting much. Try mo muna. Expedition usually gamit kong column shifter. Kahit naman sa manual (e.g. L300), hindi naman mahirap. Parang ganun din lang naman.

AFAIK, column shifter pa din sila because they tout the walk through space in between the seats as one of their product features. It also makes the cabin seem roomier.

[basti08]

ang alam kong ma-co-convert na SUV eh, Ford Escape lang...kase yung USDM model ng Escape/Tribute ay floor mounted shifter. so, maybe you could order parts for it through the dealer and also have it done sa casa.

imo, OK naman nga pag matic, have driven a manual L300 dati...kakapanibago kaya lang ganun parin naman ang pag gamit ng kambyo eh.

[niky]

The problem with the conversion is you'll have to by a lot of parts. The shifter itself, the console, etcetera. If the car is automatic, like most SUVs and CUVs are now, it's not really worth it. Just learn to get used to it. It was really weird learning to use the column shifter (manual) of the L300, but after just a few kilometers, it'll feel natural.

[Odiong929]

ganon ba? ang pumipigil lang kasi sakin ngayon para bumili ng SUV ay yung mga column shifter. hindi kasi ako sanay talaga dun. may plan ba CRV na gawing floor shifter sakanila next year?

Guys, I'm a bit confused here. Kaya bumaba talaga ako sa parking to see where the SUV shifters are mounted. Here's what I've checked. Toyota Prado 2005-Floor, Nissan Murano 2006 - Floor, Lexus Rx330-Floor, BMW X5 2005-Floor, VW Touareg 2006-Floor, Honda CRV 2003-Floor, Hummer H3 2005-Floor, Pajero 2005-Floor, Pajero 1998-floor, Toyota LC 2005-Floor. Wether they are automatic or manual. Bakit ang mga sa Pinas ba na SUV column shifter? Di ko na notice yon ah or am I missing something somewhere? Sa Pinas kasi L300 yong service namin. Pero dito sa middle east walang L300 na column shift, puro floor lahat.

[ronald_m]

Column shifter = less parts = more money for car company.

[niky]

Not really, the level of complexity is the same. Otherwise, the new Ford Escape would not be coming with a floor mounted shifter.

Column shifters are primarily targetted at saving space or giving a bigger feeling for passengers.

[russpogi]

Bakit ayaw nyo ng column shifters? IMO, it's way better than floor shifters since you do not move your hands that much away from the steering wheel, thus better ergonomics for your driving experience. That's I love and miss our L-300.

[ronald_m]

Not really, the level of complexity is the same. Otherwise, the new Ford Escape would not be coming with a floor mounted shifter.

Column shifters are primarily targetted at saving space or giving a bigger feeling for passengers.

Are you sure? Do you have hands on experience with this or you just read it?

[OTEP]

I guess that would still be on a model to model basis. For old Benzes, the column shifter is a bit more complex as it is a direct mechanical linkage to the transmission living under the center console.

A lot of A/T shifters nowadays are nothing more than electric switches connected by wire to the transmission (even the transfer case lever of the GEN III Pajero is like this). You can practically place them anywhere (even in the stupidest of places like the ceiling, luggage compartment, etc.) and you'd only need longer wires and a way to mount it.

[ronald_m]

My bad.I thought we're talking about MT here.

[OTEP]

I thought we were talking about both.

Case to case lang talaga.

[niky]

Yup. Most ATs are placeable anywhere you like. In fact, you probably don't really need a lever except for the ability to quickly shift it into reverse/neutral in an emergency.

Hands on experience? Are you asking me if I've ever dismantled a transmission by hand? :lol: Well, I haven't. but I've had engine swaps done, and I've done quite a bit of engine shopping for myself and others.

RE: Manual Trannies: Most transmissions on modern FWD cars don't go into the traditional "transmission tunnel" between the front seat like in RWD cars. If we're talking traditional RWD cars with MT shifters, yes, it's probably a simpler mechanism if the shifter is mounted on the tunnel.

But if we're talking transverse mounted FWD engines, or even RWD vans wherein the engine is under the driver, the position of the transmission doesn't allow you to directly tap it, so the shifter linkage is usually by cable or articulated rods, not direct mechanical linkage.

Which is why it's relatively easy to convert a Suzuki Super Carry, with the steering wheel and shifter in front of the engine, to a mini-jeep, with both items behind the engine. Well, simple for the shifter, anyway. I have no idea how they re-route the steering wheel.

As an aside: how come so many people are on my case lately? I'm not perfect, but I don't pull stuff out of my behind when I post...

What I meant with my previous post was: If you take the column shifter as merely a money-saving device, it doesn't work out. They have column shifters on very expensive cars, too. BMW's 7-series is a column shifter, while their 1, 3 and 5-series are floor shifter models. Column shifters on cheap cars are mostly found on those wherein there is importance placed on legroom, possibly wherein they want room for three people side by side. They've gone out of vogue on more modern cars simply because a floor shifter is easier to use for most people, and we don't sit like that anymore.

It's making a comeback on those expensive cars, though, because it makes them feel roomier and less... pedestrian... if there isn't a working-class shift lever in the middle of the console.